Miami Springs Shuts Out St. Brendan To Reach State Finals

Box Score

Reaching the state tournament is not easy to do. To accomplish that magical journey is something never to forget, and worth the grind it takes to make that goal happen. On Wednesday afternoon, the Miami Springs Hawks realized this dream by completing the series sweep with a 5-0 shutout over St. Brendan to win the 3A-4 regional championship.

For the second time in school history, Miami Springs is going to states.

“Our boys have been excellent all year. They’ve been dedicated to the program and really worked their tails off to be in this position to be playing for the state championship,” Hawks Manager David Fanshawe said. “This is only the second team to win a regional championship in the history of our school, and that is something that these boys should be proud of.”

The Hawks (26-3) also reached the state final four in 2019, Fanshawe’s third season at the helm.

While that regional title in 2019 came after an offensive shootout, it was the pitching that led the way in Wednesday’s showdown. Magdiel Estevez nearly went the distance to earn the win, tossing a gem to hold the Sabres (19-15) to just two hits and two walks. The senior left-hander piled up 10 strikeouts while improving to 8-1 on the season.

“Magdiel was great today and gave us a chance to win,” Fanshawe said.

After a 3-2 loss in game one, St. Brendan came into the contest chasing a chance to extend the series, and keep their own hopes alive at returning to the state final four for the first time since winning the state championship 42 years ago in the 1983 season.

The Sabres were aggressive right away, with their best scoring chance coming in the top of the first inning after Diego Alvarez smacked a double to left field with one out. But Estevez struck out the next two batters to strand the runner.

Miami Springs scored with its first swings in the bottom of the first, and never looked back.

“We were able to get a run in the first and get ahead early and then get three more in the second inning to give us some breathing room,” Fanshawe said. “After playing such a tight game on Tuesday, getting to an early lead gave the boys a bit of confidence early in the game.”

Kelven Perrera got it going right away with a lead-off single, and Estevez worked a walk behind him to push Perrera into scoring position. Courtesy-runner Spencer Hilton then came in for Perrera, and he scored on an RBI from Jordany Gonzalez.

The Hawks kept the pressure on by quickly loading the bases in the second. Taylor Ancheta singled, Austin Argote walked and Yordan Torres reached on an error, and then all three runners scored when Justin Mercado came through with the biggest hit of the day when he drove a bases-clearing triple to right field.

Torres also had a triple in the contest, leading off the bottom of the fourth with the three-bagger. He then scored on a wild pitch to account for the final run of the day.

After Estevez reached his pitch limit, senior Anthony Espinoza came on relief and recorded the final out on a pop up back to the mound.

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